TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR FRESH VEGETABLE POST-HARVEST EXPERT FOR TRAINING DESIGN AND DELIVERY

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR 

FRESH VEGETABLE POST-HARVEST EXPERT FOR TRAINING DESIGN AND DELIVERY 

1.     BACKGROUND

Heifer International Nepal is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Since its inception in 1957, Heifer has impacted the lives of over 400,000 families through agriculture and livestock programs, focusing on empowering rural women. Its mission is to ensure families achieve sustainable living incomes, with access to food, shelter, education, and healthcare, while driving progress toward more inclusive and resilient agri-food systems. Since last few years, Heifer has considered the importance of vegetable sub-sector as major contributor for household income and resilience and prioritizing this component in different projects like Innovations in Agro-Livestock Value Chain (IALVC), Nepal Government Partnership (NGP), Value Chain for Inclusive Transformation of Agriculture (VITA). These projects are being implemented in collaboration with government, civil society organizations, and private sectors to enhance the marketable surplus of vegetables among the project participants, increased technical knowledge and skills of extension staffs, cooperatives and service providers. This capacity-building initiative encompasses various aspects including the promotion of climate-resilient production technologies, market-led vegetable production and post-harvest management practices.

Effective post-harvest management is critical in reducing losses, maintaining quality, and increasing profitability for farmers and cooperatives. Many farmers are facing challenges such as poor handling, improper storage, and limited knowledge of best practices in post-harvest management. To address these challenges, we seek to engage an expert on postharvest horticulture to design a training curriculum on improved post-harvest handling, storage, and value addition techniques for most common grown fresh vegetables in the project area and deliver the training for the operators, manager and management committee members of vegetable collection and processing cooperatives and centers. 

2.     OBJECTIVES 

The main objective of this assignment is to enhance the knowledge and skills of leader farmers, vegetable market management committee members, market operators and related staffs on appropriate post-harvest handling, storage, and marketing of fresh vegetables, thereby reducing losses and increasing the market value.

3.     SCOPE OF WORK 

To achieve the set objectives outlined above, the consultant(s) shall perform this assignment with the following scope of work: 

• Organize consultation meeting with Heifer team and selected cooperatives to assess the current post-harvest handling practices being adopted at farm and vegetable collection & processing center level.
• Explore and appraisal of appropriate postharvest handling practices for fresh vegetables being in practice nationally and internationally that are applicable to Nepalese context.  
• Design and deliver 3 days training on post-harvest management tailored to the needs of farmers and cooperatives (above mentioned targeted participants) with focus on: 
  • Practically demonstrate best practices in harvesting, handling, sorting, grading, packaging, and storage (including) of major fresh vegetables.
  • Operation of cold storage facilities for extending self-life and marketability of fresh produce
  • Value addition techniques to enhance product quality and shelf life through appropriate post-harvest technologies. 
  • Improving storage facilities and cooperative marketing strategies.
  • Educate farmers and cooperative team on food safety, hygiene, and market standards.
• Develop brief training manual for facilitators with related technical briefings and reference reading materials. 
• Prepare and submit assignment completion report with specific recommendations for further actions and interventions for appropriate postharvest handling of fresh produce.  

4.     LIST OF MAJOR VEGETABLES 

The commonly grown and marketed vegetables in the project area that need to be considered in this assignment are Asparagus, Beans (Long beans, French beans),  Brinjal, Chilli & Peppers (Akabare Chili, Sweet Pepper, Hot Pepper,) Crucifers (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli), Cucurbits (Cucumber, Bitter-gourd, Bottle-gourd, Snake-gourd, Sponge-gourd, Pumpkin, Squash), Coriander, Leafy vegetables (Broad leaf mustard), Okra, Roots (Carrot, Radish), Tomato. 

5.     DELIVERABLES 

• Inception report with assignment methodology and timeline, 
• A detail training curriculum with appropriate tools, methodologies, and materials.
• Deliver one training event organized by Heifer with above mentioned participants.
• Final training content, handouts and power-point slides being used during training.  
• A brief assignment completion reports with relevant supporting document. 

6.     DURATION AND TIMELINE 

This assignment is expected commence immediately and complete within April 2025. The maximum duration of the assignment is 15 days from the date of award.

7.     REQUIRED COMPETENCIES OF THE EXPERT

• Experts with a master’s degree in Horticulture (preferably in postharvest) with at least 10 years of relevant hand-on experience in post-harvest management.
• Proven experience on training and capacity-building of farmers, cooperatives, market actors and technicians.

8.     HEIFER’S INPUT AND COUNTERPART PERSONNEL 

Heifer will provide the available context specific information, objective and targeted audience of the manual and the draft manual to the consultant. In addition, Heifer will delegate a primary contact person who will provide necessary professional and logistics support as requested by consultant to accomplish the assignment. 

9.     REPLICATION AND UPSCALING SCOPE 

Heifer has been implementing vegetable focused project in more than 30 cooperatives. This single assignment shall be the pilot case and carries significant opportunity for replication in future across Heifer’s program. Upon successful and satisfactory performance of the consultant(s) during this assignment, Heifer and its project partner shall procure the service of the consultant(s) and mobilize in current and next year’s through their respective procurement process. 

10.    HOW TO APPLY 

The interested and qualified consultant(s)/consulting firm are invited to apply for this assignment with required documents as indicated below.

• Cover Letter  
• Technical proposal including detail training sessions along with tools and methodologies.
• Financial proposal detailing the expected consultancy fee and associated expenses (Note: Heifer will cover the travel, food and accommodation during the training) 
• CVs of expert(s) highlighting relevant experience for this assignment
• Copy of VAT/PAN as applicable 
• Latest tax clearance certificate FY 080-81 (in case of firm/company)  

The consultant/firm may submit applications via email to Procurement-NP@heifer.org with email subject line “Application for post-harvest training design & delivery” along with above mentioned documents by 2nd April 2025, 5:00 PM. 

Applications received with incomplete documents and after the due date will be disqualified. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further selection process. Heifer reserves all the rights to reject any or all applications without providing any reasons.